Standard
April 20/1870
Schooner “Nettie” launched from Smith’s Shipyard—88 x 26 feet. 118 tons. Master builder James Starkey. Owners J. Watson (our James), J. W. Street, A. D. Stevenson , P. Quinn, D. Budge, Capt. N. Clark, J. Burton, M. Andrews (also captain of vessel). June 22—laying keel for 300 ton vessel “at the building yard, near the railway,” seems to be a new business—Starkey’s.
Standard
June 22, 1870
New Vessel. We are happy to learn that Mr. Starkey, the builder of the “Nettie” is laying the keel of a new vessel of upwards of 300 tons, at the building yard, near the Railway. It is to be hoped that every encouragement will be extended to our young friend in his efforts to establish shipbuilding at this Port, where so many large and fine vessels were built formerly.
Standard
April 19/1871
Launched from the building yard at the lighthouse this forenoon, a beautifully modelled and well finished vessel of 147 tons register; 314 carpenters measurement, which on entering her future element was named the “Greta.” She is constructed of spruce, with hackmatac top, the planks hardwood, and is to be commanded by Capt. Harry Stinson, who, with John Watson, A. D. Stevenson , Jas. Scallion, Jas. Starkey and others are owners. T his is the second vessel built by our young townsman, Mr. James Starkey, whose fame as a builder is now established.
Pilot
Dec 2, 1880
Mr. James Starkey is going into the woods with a crew of men to get out the frame for a hundred and fifty ton schooner he is going to build at the point. She will be owned by a company.
Pilot
April 14, 1881
Mr. James Starkey in his shipyard at the point has laid the keel of a schooner for the coasting trade, to be owned by a company in town and commanded by Capt. John Maloney, her dimensions are to be keel 95 feet, beam 27, dept 10, tonnage 150 tons, frame hackmatac. The model was designed by Mr. Starkey, who is celebrated for building vessels that prove to be good carriers and fast sailors.
St. Croix Courier
April 21/1881
Mr. Jas. Starkey, who has a first class reputation as a master builder, has laid the keel of a coasting schooner, in his shipyard at Indian Point, in St. Andrews. It will be commanded by Capt. John Maloney, who was formerly in charge of the Julia Clinch.
Pilot
Aug 31, 1882
The new schooner building at the Point by Mr. James Starkey for Mr. Andrew Lamb and others, will be launched this day (Thursday) at about one o’clock pm. As she will be the first vessel ever launched in this port, broadside on, no doubt a large number of persons will be attracted to witness it. She will be called the George Lamb. We hope that the good schooner will be launched with safety into her future native element.
Pilot
Sept 7, 1882
The schooner George Lamb was launched from Starkey’s shipyard Thursday last at 12:30 o’clock pm. From the fact that the schooner was to be launched sideways, one hundred feet, a large number of spectators were present. The launch was effected without difficulty, the noble vessel glided gracefully into her native element amid the hearty cheers of the onlookers. The George Lamb was modelled and designed by her builder, Mr. James Starkey, and is another proof of his skill as a master workman. Her lines are very symmetrical with a clear run fore and aft, her frame is hackmatac and her dimensions are as follows, keel 95 feet, beam 27 feet, depth of hold 9 feet. She has a half poop cabin and forward house, and is fitted with all the modern improvements in naval architecture. The George Lamb is owned by Mr. Andrew Lamb and others, and is to be commanded by Capt. John Maloney, who is a part owner. Immediately after the launch she was towed to Gove’s wharf, where she will receive her spars and outfits. We hope that the George Lamb ill meet with favouring winds and bring her owners a rich reward for their enterprise.
Pilot
Aug 12, 1886
Mr. James Starkey launched last week, a very neatly modelled and well finished fishing schooner of about 12 tons burden; which he has named “Crusoe.” Nautical men who have seen the pretty craft, decide that she will, like the vessels previously built by Mr. Starkey, prove a good sea boat and fast sailer. The Crusoe is for sale.
Pilot
Aug 2/1888
James Starkey’s yacht “Crusoe” being used for local visits around the Bay and as far as Digby. “The Crusoe is a good seat boat and a fast sailer.”
Beacon
April 23/1891
The lighthouse wharf, generally known as the steamboat wharf, which as been rapidly going to decay for some years past, is about to be placed in thorough repair again. The Local Government have generously granted $1500 for the purpose, on condition that the company expend a like amount. This the Company have decided to do at once. Mr. James Starkey, of St. Andrews, has been awarded the contract for the work, and it will be pushed forward to completion as rapidly as possible. It is expected that a great portion of the coal business of the railway will be done on this wharf. The New York Steamship Company are anxious to secure a landing there also, so that the prospect for a fair business being done over this wharf would seem to be quite bright.
Beacon
April 13/1893
Before leaving town, Mr. (Sir William) Van Horne purchased a boat from Mr. James Starkey, and also obtained figures for the construction of a larger vessel for deep-sea fishing.
Beacon
Aug. 5/1897
A sociable little party set out from the Algonquin on Thursday last, tempted by the promise of day’s fishing and one of Capt. Starkey’s famous chowders.
Beacon
Oct 7, 1897
New tenders for the care of the buoys in St. Andrews harbour have been received. Capt. James Starkey’s tender of $78 was the lowest, and he received the contract.
Beacon
March 28/1901
Suicide by Drowning
Capt. Starkey, A Victim of Melancholy, Takes His Own Life
A shocking tragedy, and one that is fortunately very rare in this community, occurred early on Saturday morning last, when Capt. James Starkey, the well-known boatman, ended his life by his own hands.
For some time past, Capt. Starkey had been in a despondent mood. The recent deaths of his two sons (both remarkably brilliant students) the serious illness of another son at Aitken, South Carolina, and the discovery that he himself was affected with a cancer, so preyed upon his mind that the became melancholy and unable to sleep. Dr. Gove, his attending physician, tried to shake off this melancholy feeling, but in vain. On Friday, the doctor paid him two visits, and left with his wife a prescription to induce sleep. The doctor warned Mrs. Starkey that her husband was in a dangerous frame of mind and that he should be watched.
About midnight, the unfortunate man went out of his house, but soon after returned and warmed his hands at the stove. Between 1 and 2 o’clock, he left the house again. This time he did not return. His wife waited half an hour for him to come back, and the, becoming thoroughly alarmed, she visited Mr. James Ross, a neighbor, and imparted her fears to him. He aroused Mr. Thomas Pendlebury and together they went over to the Starkey wharf to begin their search. With aid of a lantern hey soon discovered the body in the water, with a heavy weight fastened to it. The painful discovery was at once made known to his family and as soon as the tide receded the body was lifted. Coroner Wade, who viewed the remains, did not consider an inquest necessary.
The deceased was 64 years of age and leaves a wife, two sons and a daughter, for whom the heartfelt sympathy is felt. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, with a great deal of personal independence about him. His integrity was undoubted. As a mechanic, he had few equals.
During his time, he built some very fine vessels. Among those whose construction he directed were the schooners Nettie, Greta, Nellie Clark, Christina, Annie P. Odell, George Lamb and Telephone, all of which with the exception of the Nellie Clark were constructed at St. Andrews. The Clark was built at Robbinston.
Of late years, Capt. Starkey has devoted his time to building boats and taking out pleasure parties in his little schooner Crusoe. He was well known and greatly respected among the summer visitors. He was also buoy contractor for the port of St. Andrews.
On Monday, the remains were taken to Robbinston, Maine, for internment. Before leaving, a short service was held at the house by Rev. A W. Mahon.
St. Croix Courier
March 28, 1901
Suicide in St. Andrews
James Starkey, aged sixty-five years, in the most deliberate manner, committed suicide about two o’clock last Saturday morning at his home in St. Andrews. He has, for some time, suffered from insomnia. This, coupled with the death of members of his family and tidings received one day last week that his son, Justin, who is in South Carolina for his health, was sinking rapidly, and the thought that a pustule on his nose would form into a cancer, so preyed on his mind as to cause him to act queerly. He went out of his home about midnight, returned in half an hour or so and sat down by the stove to warm himself. About one-thirty, a.m., he again went out. His wife requested him not to stay long. Shortly after he went out she heard a noise on the wharf adjacent to the house which so alarmed her that she went over to her neighbour, James Ross, and asked him to go down to the wharf in search of Mr. Starkey. Mr. Ross went but having no lantern found it too dark. He went back to his house and got one. Accompanied by his sons and a neighbour, Thomas Pendlebury, he went back and searched the wharf. Finding no trace of him, he held the lantern over the end of the wharf where the feet of the missing man were seen near the surface of the water. Having no boat or other appliance, the parties waited until the tide ebbed and with a rope fasted to the legs hauled the body on the wharf, when it was found that Starkey had passed the end of a piece of rope through a hole and took three half hitches around a piece of rope, part of the drawbar of a railroad car, that weighted about one hundred pounds. He then passed the other end of the rope around his neck, taking two half hitches in it, heaving about two feet slack. So bound he went to hid death over the wharf. Coroner J. A. Wade, M. D., was called the view the body. He believed that the jerk when the iron drew tight the rope had broken Starkey’s neck. Deeming an inquest unnecessary he directed the body to be taken to the house. Mrs. Starkey has the sympathy of the community.
The remains of Mr. Starkey were taken on Monday over to Robbinston in the steamer Jeanette for interment in the grave where two of his children now lie.
The late James Starkey was a respected citizen of St. Andrews, of which he was a native. He was a shipbuilder and amongst other vessels built by him were the schooners Nettie, Greta, George Lamb, Telephone and Crusoe; barkentine Christiana, Brigantine Annie P. Odell, and at Robbinston, Maine, the schooner Nellie Clark. The Crusoe he built as a yacht, sailing her himself for the pleasure and accommodation of summer visitors who will regret to hear of the genial captain’s end.